Assembly for use in a drug delivery device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly for a drug delivery device comprising a dispensing container and a reservoir container for holding a fluid medicinal product, wherein the dispensing container and the reservoir container are connected to one another and are in fluid communication, and wherein the dispensing container is squeezable for dispensing a dose of the fluid medicinal product from the dispensing container, the dispensing container being refillable with the fluid medicinal product from the reservoir container.

1 . A drug delivery device, comprising:
 a housing configured to receive a reservoir container holding a fluid medicinal product, wherein the reservoir container includes an outlet located at a first end of the reservoir container and the reservoir container is coupled to a dispensing spring at a second end of the reservoir container located generally opposite the first end;   a needle unit coupled to the housing;   a flow path comprising a flexible tube fluidly connecting the reservoir container and the needle unit;   a first control member located generally at the first end of the reservoir container and configured to allow a flow of the fluid medicinal product into the flow path from the reservoir; and   an actuator movably positioned within the housing and configured to dispense a dose of the fluid medicinal product.   
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the first control member fluidly connects the flexible tube to the outlet of the reservoir container. 
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir container is fixedly attached to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to move relative to the reservoir container to dispense the fluid medicinal product. 
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir container is arranged generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery device of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to an actuator spring. 
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery device of  claim 1 , further including a second control member configured to allow the fluid medicinal product to flow into the needle unit. 
     
     
         9 . The drug delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the second control member is coupled to the needle unit. 
     
     
         10 . The drug delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the second control member is located between the flexible tube and the needle unit. 
     
     
         11 . The drug delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein the second control member fluidly connects the flow path to the needle unit. 
     
     
         12 . A drug delivery device, comprising:
 a housing coupled to a reservoir container configured to hold a fluid medicinal product;   a needle unit coupled to the housing;   a flow path fluidly connecting the reservoir container to the needle unit, the flow path comprising at least a flexible tube;   a first control member configured to open to allow the fluid medicinal product to flow from the reservoir;   a second control member configured to open to allow the fluid medicinal product to flow through the needle unit; and   an actuator configured to open the first and second control members and move the flexible tube to dispense a dose of the fluid medicinal product.   
     
     
         13 . The drug delivery device of  claim 12 , wherein the reservoir container includes an outlet located at a first end of the reservoir container that is fluidly coupled to the first control member. 
     
     
         14 . The drug delivery device of  claim 13 , wherein the reservoir container is coupled to a dispensing spring at a second end of the reservoir container located generally opposite the first end. 
     
     
         15 . The drug delivery device of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second ends of the reservoir container are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The drug delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a drug delivery device, comprising:
 moving an actuator relative to a housing of the drug delivery device to;   a) open a first control member to allow a fluid medicinal product to flow from a reservoir to a flow path of the drug delivery device;   b) move at least part of a flexible tube located within the flow path; and   c) open a second control member to allow the fluid medicinal product to flow from the flow path to a needle unit of the drug delivery device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising applying a force to a second end of the reservoir container to force the fluid medicinal product to flow from a first end of the reservoir container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the actuator relative to the housing includes moving the actuator along a longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising applying a spring force to the actuator to return the actuator to a starting position.